Goodbye to the Oil Weapon

Posted on: May 20th, 2012

New sources of oil and gas found in the US, Canada and South America are expected to make the Western Hemisphere energy self-sufficient by 2030. Even Israel has new sources of natural gas. And the rest of the world’s energy supply will no longer be hostage to the Mideast-dominated OPEC cartel. So at long last we can say goodbye to the ‘oil weapon’ and to the use of surplus oil money to buy politicians and academics.

IMRA: Gestures To PA – But Keep The Gloves Off

Posted on: May 20th, 2012

Making gestures should in no way be accompanied by a reconciliatory approach towards objectionable Palestinian behavior and Palestinian pronouncements. Toning down criticism of the PA not only doesn’t serve the interests of Israel – it ultimately does not serve the interests of the Palestinians.

Khaled Abu Toameh: How Much Is Mahmoud Abbas Worth?

Posted on: May 20th, 2012

Try $100 million.

Rubin Reports: The Middle East – Brave New World or Scary New Master?

Posted on: May 20th, 2012

Why would a leading figure in Turkey's ruling Islamist party identify the era of rising Islamism as a “great shame…[in which the Middle East ] fell prey to the thirst of barbarian bloodshed”?

Mordechai Kedar: The Syrian Crisis Spills Over into Lebanon

Posted on: May 20th, 2012

From the tragedy of Tripoli and Lebanon we can draw several conclusions: in the Middle East it is not possible to establish a state with an Arab society and Western political characteristics; Iranian involvement - even the economic and cultural – will ultimately undermine Western cultural and political influence in the Middle East; and whoever legitimizes jihad against Israel receives terror in his own streets in return.

J.E. Dyer: Reflections on Ambassador Shapiro’s ‘We’re ready to attack’ comments in Israel

Posted on: May 20th, 2012

For the United States, issuing attack threats in the manner of Hugo Chavez is not a convincing posture. I don’t know if the Israelis will find it reassuring; I suspect the Europeans and Iranians will find it annoying, and decide to ignore it.

A Russian Refusenik Remembers Jerusalem

Posted on: May 20th, 2012

Minister of Diaspora and Public Affairs Yuli Edelstein: “For me, Jerusalem is more than just a capital to be proud of. As the former Minister of Immigrant Absorption, I can say that for Jews who immigrated to Israel--from as far as Ethiopia-- making aliya to Israel always meant returning to Jerusalem, to Zion."

Yoram Ettinger: Beyond World Opinion

Posted on: May 17th, 2012

The bolstering of Jewish sovereignty generates negative world opinion - except in the U.S. and a few other countries - but enhances respect toward a conviction-driven Jewish state. On the other hand, when Jewish sovereignty retreats and Israel submits to world opinion, it merely projects weakness. Israel will never satisfy world opinion, and such action only further fuels global pressure.

Muslim Voters Change Europe

Posted on: May 17th, 2012

According to a survey of 10,000 French voters conducted by the polling firm OpinionWay for the Paris-based newspaper Le Figaro, an extaordinary 93% of French Muslims voted for Hollande on May 6. The French vote marks the first time that Muslims have determined the outcome of a presidential election in a major western European country; it is a preview of things to come.

Hamastan is the Palestinian state

Posted on: May 17th, 2012

Palestine exists in the Gaza Strip, sometimes called Hamastan. It is a well-developed Islamist state, with an army, a court system and a real economy. With the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the implosion of the Syrian regime, it has been immeasurably strengthened in the region.